Downbearing - Setting with a loose board

[Ron Nossaman]

>We don't wedge the board down to pre-load it prior to setting the bridge 
>height/down bearing. Since the downbearing loads are quantifiable, it is 
>possible to predict the sound board drop when under load. The desired 
>final down bearing angle, and the loss of angle predicted under down 
>bearing load are added together to arrive at an unstrung initial down 
>bearing setting for each point.
>
>Ron O.


Hi Ron,
I've done it this way too. It theoretically shouldn't be, but it's still a 
pleasant surprise when everything settles just about where the calculations 
said it would.

Ron N